VOX October 2015 by VOX Magazine

ISSUE 28 / OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

FREE YOUNG ADULTS’ SURVEY

MILLENNIALS IN IRELAND HAVE THEIR SAY ON FAITH, LIFE AND REALITY

THE SURF PROJECT

GOD MEANT IT FOR GOOD

CREATING A SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENCOUNTER GOD

THE AMAZING STORY OF VETERAN MISSIONARY MAUD KELLS OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

AMIRA, ONE OF 30 MILLION CHILDREN LIVING AS A REFUGEE A regular monthly gift of €21 can help us reach children like Amira and bring hope. Donate online tearfund.ie/donate or call us on 01 878 3200

Tearfund Ireland 2nd Floor, Ulysses House 22–24 Foley St, Dublin 1 enquiries@tearfund.ie Registered Charity No. CHY 8600 Photo: Stella Chetham/Tearfund

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

EDITORIAL

Are we listening? ne of my favourite films is the sci-fi spoof “Galaxy Quest”. In one scene, a has-been actor meets up with a group of aliens, thinking they are fans. Still hung over from an all-night drinking session, the actor leans back and closes his eyes. “Don’t worry; I’m listening to every word you say,” he assures them… and promptly falls asleep. Cartoons can depict the stereotype of a distracted husband who has clearly missed everything his wife is saying. It is often the other way around in our home, especially when I’m immersed in a project that takes my full attention. Words roll over me but they don’t sink in; like drops of water on an oiled surface they remain poised, waiting but are too easily brushed off and ignored. A friend once asked, “Are you listening to understand or listening to respond?” There is a difference. When we listen to respond, we are quick to make assumptions and jump to conclusions. Our focus is on formulating our answer rather than grappling with what has been said. Listening to respond means we’ve already decided that our opinion is more important than that of the other person. Listening to understand takes time, patience, humility,

ARE YOU LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND OR LISTENING TO RESPOND? empathy and a lot of effort. It is an act of love. Too often we are so consumed with our own needs, opinions and priorities, we are so convinced that we are right, that we fail to listen. The VOX Young Adults’ Survey elicited a huge response. Several commented about how grateful they were to share their opinion. The findings create an amazing opportunity for us to engage with one generation and find out what matters to them and why. The long process of collating, evaluating, weighing and weighting the survey results is still on-going. Here in VOX, you will find some initial summaries and responses (pages 12 - 34) but we hope to publish a full report at a later stage. What strikes me is this: 748 young adults have spoken. Do we care enough to listen?

THE VOX TEAM NEEDS YOU! The volunteer team that brings you VOX is expanding! In order to grow the magazine, we are urgently seeking a new team member. The Advertising

Sales Coordinator

aims to sell print and online advertising, caring for current advertisers and signing up new ones. This role is voluntary and expenses are covered. It would require ca. six hours per week, with the run up to publication date being a busier period. The candidate would ideally (but not necessarily) have some experience in this area. Find out more about this role at www.vox.ie. If you are interested, please contact Jonny at jonny@vox.ie or 01 443 4789.

Go on, we'd love to hear from you!

Ruth Garvey-Williams Editor (editor@vox.ie)

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

P40

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CELEBRATING 40 YEARS AT BCM

OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015, ISSUE 28 ISSN: 2009-2253 P UBLISHE R The VOX Team EDI TOR Ruth Garvey-Williams editor@vox.ie LAYOUT & A DV E RT I S I N G Jonny Lindsay jonny@vox.ie OP ERATION S Tara Byrne tara@vox.ie P ROJEC T A DV I S OR Tom Slattery SUBSC RIP T I ON S Ireland & UK: Min. €8 for four issues Overseas: Min. €17 for four issues All cheques should be made payable to 'VOX Magazine'. V OX Mag a z ine Ulysses House 22 - 24 Foley Street Dublin 1 Tel: 01 443 4789 | info@vox.ie | www.vox.ie DISC LA IME R

The views expressed in letters and articles are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the VOX Team or our partners. The acceptance of advertising does not indicate endorsement.

P RINT Ross Print, Greystones, Co. Wicklow C OV ER P HOTO Agape Ireland / Krista Kirby VOX magazine is a quarterly publication, brought to you by a passionate team of volunteers.

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YOUNG ADULTS’ SURVEY

THE SURF PROJECT

CONTENTS 12 24 36 14 17 18 20 22 28 32 34 38 40 30 06 08 10 16

COVER STORIES Young Adults’ Survey: Millennials in Ireland have their say on faith, life and reality. The Surf Project - “Creating a space and a place for young people to encounter God.” God meant it for good - Awarded an OBE, voted Belfast Telegraph “woman of the year” and shot! 2015 has been quite a year for veteran missionary Maud Kells.

FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS Young Adults’ Survey: Millennials and the Church From Ireland with love: A Christmas shoebox miracle - 16 years on! What works for you? Looking forward to the National Evangelism Forum in November. Young Adults’ Survey: Generation Gap - exploring the different priorities for older and younger people within our churches. Young Adults’ Survey: “Show us your scars so we know we are not alone.” Young Adults’ Survey: Dreaming Dreams for the future of the church in Ireland. Young Adults’ Survey: Developing Leaders, Inspiring mission Young Adults’ Survey: Responses from Christian leaders Broken: Restoring the trust between the sacred and the secular Celebrating 40 years at BCM

VOX VIEWS Stop Imitating, Start Innovation - finding a uniquely Irish model of ministry REGULAR FEATURES VOX: Shorts

19 VOX: World News 43 Your VOX: Letters to the editor 44 The Soapboxer 46

Confessions of a Feint Saint Reviews Event Listing VOX: PS with Seán Mullan

IRELAND 04

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

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VOX SHORTS

Dementia on the increase

Concerns are rising over resources for people living with dementia and their families and carers. According to the Alzheimer’s Society there are currently almost 48,000 people living with dementia in Ireland but this number is estimated to more than triple by 2046 partly due to population ageing. Around 4,000 new cases of dementia area identified each year. Consultant geriatrician Dr. Ronan Collins describes it as a “dementia tsunami” that poses significant challenges to our health service, carers and the public purse. A recent report by Trinity College, Dublin highlights an alarming deficit of specialist care units for people with dementia. The average

cost of appropriate care is estimate to be around €40,000 per person. Currently a large number of those living with conditions such as Alzheimer’s are being cared for by family members. The report, “An Irish National Survey of Dementia in Long-Term Residential Care,” also found there were only 66 respite beds available to cater for the needs of an estimated 30,000 living with dementia in the community. VOX is interested to know what churches in Ireland are doing to support those suffering with dementia and their carers. Please get in touch and tell us what you are doing (editor@vox.ie).

New film resource for teenagers

Scripture Union Ireland, in partnership with Alpha Ireland, will be producing a film series to help Irish teenagers explore tough questions about faith. Headed up by YouthAlpha’s Jonny Somerville, the aim is to develop eight high-quality 15-18 minute videos exploring subjects such as “Did Jesus actually rise again?” and “How can God allow suffering?” With broad experience of working cross-denominationally and purposefully with teenagers all over the country, Scripture Union and Youth Alpha hope to develop a resource that responds to the needs and questions of Irish young people. Irish production company Tiny Ark and director Greg Fromholz will work on the project alongside Alpha Ireland and Scripture Union. Contact jonny@ scriptureunion.ie for more information.

Five Resources for you to check out www.youversion.com Download, read and share the bible through your phone, laptop or tablet with the ability to share Bible verses as an attractive image.

www.walkthru.org Bible resources including free devotional materials and Bible reading plans as well DVDs, teaching tools and books available for order.

www.wingclips.com Inspirational movie clips to download and use in your school, church or youth group.

www.iamsecond.com Top athletes and celebrities share the importance of Jesus in their lives.

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

www.creationswap.com Sign up for up to three free resources a month including professional quality photos, graphics, videos and powerpoint slides. There are lots of paid options, too, but simply restrict your search to the “free” resources to see what is available.

VOX MAGAZINE

Ministry to Migrants & Asylum Seekers

Suicide prevention and the church

According to official figures, around 500 people die by suicide in Ireland every year. This compares with 196 people killed on the roads in 2014. And yet far more resources are poured into road safety nationwide than into suicide prevention. VOX magazine’s recent “Young Adults’ Survey” and recent VOX “Dream Days” have shown that suicide and mental health are major areas of concern for Christians in Ireland. So how can individual Christians and churches respond? In 2016, VOX magazine will host three regional one-day conferences to raise awareness, combat misinformation and stigma, and equip churches to engage effectively with suicide prevention. VOX editor, Ruth Garvey-Williams, who is chair of an award-winning community suicide prevention group in Donegal, says, “Wherever I go in Ireland, I hear Christians expressing concern about suicide rates but many don’t know how to respond. At VOX, we wanted to bring together some of the wonderful individuals, groups and churches we have met that are working to make a difference. We hope these regional conferences will raise awareness of what is being done both locally and nationally and inspire you to action. Please join us. “If you are involved in suicide prevention, either individually or as a church, and would like to contribute, please get in touch soon!” Each conference will run from 10am (registration from 9.30) and will feature keynote speakers, workshops and inspiring, practical examples as well as opportunities for discussion and questions. Tickets cost €20 per person and €10 for students / concessions (including lunch, tea & coffee and the conference resource pack).

The Evangelical Alliance of Ireland’s resource booklet for churches is extremely relevant during the refugee crisis. Order your copy from www.nickpark.ie or download it from Amazon in Kindle format. The author of the booklet, EAI National Director Nick Park, commented, “The Hungarian Prime Minister, responding to the terrified refugees fleeing civil war and the horrors of Islamic State, said we must defend our borders against such refugees so as to protect Christian values. However, I would argue that if our ‘values’ involve slamming the door on such people, then they are neither Christian nor valuable.”

DUBLIN Date: Saturday 30 January 10am - 4pm Venue: Apostolic Church, 67a Pearse Street, Dublin 2 CORK Date: Saturday 6 February 10am - 3pm Venue: Grace Christian Church, 53 MacCurtain Street, Cork City. SLIGO Date: Saturday 20 February 10am - 4pm (to be confirmed) Venue: Calry Church (Church of Ireland), The Mall, Sligo, Co Sligo. To book your place, please email with your name, contact details and chosen venue to info@vox.ie with “Conference” in the subject line. Feel free to contact us with any question or suggestions! OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

WORLD NEWS

SYRIAN CRISIS

Refugees need long-term help, not short-term media attention! When the body of a little boy washed up on a Turkish beach, it felt as if prayers for the Middle East crisis were returning unanswered. Tearfund first raised the alarm about the Syrian crisis in March 2013 when supporters helped to provide blankets, emergency lights and kitchen utensils for those who had fled. There followed grim milestones: 2 million refugees in August 2013 and 3 million in late 2014. The UN now predicts there could be 4.27 million Syrian refugees by the end of this year (Ed: that is just short of the entire population of the Republic of Ireland). Tearfund Ireland CEO Sharan Kelly said, “Little Aylan Kurdi represents all those who are innocent in the Syrian crisis. But innocence is also under fire in other countries such as the Central African Republic and South Sudan. Our work on the ground in fragile states continues, even under fire, to reach out to those in greatest need because it is led by local church partners. The local church is there before the crisis reaches international media attention, and the local church will be there long after media attention has moved on. “We are asking you now to please stand with us, to be persistent in prayer and not to give up, even in what seems like the bleakest of circumstances. As Oswald Chambers said, ‘We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.’ Please help support the ongoing work of Tearfund and consider a regular gift.” Sharan Kelly is currently serving as chair of Dóchas, the association of Irish NGOs. In September, the group issued a letter to the Irish government, calling for immediate action on the refugee crisis. To donate towards Tearfund’s work visit www. tearfund.ie, contact the office at 01-878 3200, text donate €4 of your call credit by texting the word TEARFUND to 50300 or send a cheque to Tearfund, Ulysses House, 22-24 Foley Street, Dublin 1. Standing order forms are available to download from the website.

REFUGEE CRISIS: WHAT NOT TO DO • • • •

Avoid short-term “quick fixes” and exaggerated offers of help that you can’t sustain. Give through trusted, experienced aid and development partners with a track record rather than newly-formed groups. Take time to consider what and how to give, in order to make sure your gift will have the maximum impact. Avoid sharing graphic images on social media which remove dignity from those who suffer. If in doubt, ask, “Would I share this image if it were a photo of my loved ones?”

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

“JESUS IS WALKING IN THE STREETS OF IRAN”

The church in Iran was the main focus of Church in Chains’ recent conference in Athlone. Speaking to a large crowd, Sam Yeghnazar of Elam Ministries shared about the persecution that the church in Iran is experiencing, comparing it to the early church. Sam told many personal stories of Iranian Muslims whose lives have been changed by an encounter with Jesus – many through dreams and many through reading a copy of the New Testament, known as the Red Book in Iran. Hundreds of thousands of New Testaments have been distributed in Iran, and demand has been fuelled by state television announcements warning against it (free advertising, as Sam described it). “Who wins?” Sam asked. “The regime that seeks to frighten the church or the Lord who emboldens and gives strength to the church? It is a battle between faith and fear... and faith triumphs. I believe Jesus is walking in the streets of Iran just as He walked through towns and villages all over Israel – it is amazing how thousands of Iranians are coming to know the Lord. The church in Iran is the fastest growing church in the world.” Sam also spoke about the very real suffering that Christians experience in prison in Iran and asked,“Who gives them the courage to persevere?” Answering his own question, he said, “The Lord Jesus and your prayers!” Delegates at the conference spent time praying for the church in Iran and also heard about Church in Chains’s work in advocacy with the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee and about its support of Christian refugees in Iraq. Find out more at www.churchinchains.ie.

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

YOUR VOX

Letters to the editor

Star Letter

of VOX we In each issue all of a €25 One4 ize pr a d ar aw r. tte le ite ur r favo voucher for ou u! It could be yo

The Refugee Situation We went to the gathering at the Famine Memorial in Dublin on September 5 because we wanted to show solidarity with the Syrian (and other) refugees. On the way back we dropped into the Scripture Union Bookshop on Talbot Street and picked up a copy of the July/September VOX. We were blessed to see several pieces there about Christians helping refugees. At our prayer group for the previous few weeks we had been praying for the Syrian refugees, and for peace in the nation of Syria. The Lord has put it on our hearts to pray for them, and to help them. We were reminded of what God says in Leviticus 19:34 “The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” And of course in Matthew 25: 35, 40 “…I was a stranger and you welcomed me …and the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’”. What can we do? I suggest:

HE IS THE BEST AT “GOOD” I thoroughly enjoy picking up my copy of VOX every time, but last time I was saddened to read individuals’ opinions that God allows and inflicts disease and death on us. We can clearly see in many places in the Bible that disease, sickness and premature death are all curses and we see in the New Testament that Jesus came to defeat all the works of the enemy by healing and restoring people.

• Spread the word that Ireland welcomes refugees and will care for them. • Bring the refugees and their nations before the Lord in prayer at every chance, at every prayer meeting, at every service, at every mass. • Attend, and organise, special events such a vigils, to pray for the refugees and their nations. • Pray for the leaders of the nations who are welcoming the refugees, such as Germany, and for those who are less than welcoming. • Be available to help refugees when they arrive. Befriend them. There have, for example, been calls for every parish to accommodate at least one refugee family. • Contribute financially to those assisting the refugees. Individually we may be able to do little, but together, and with the Lord, we can do much. This is a great opportunity to show His love to others. BRIAN GALLAGHER BOOTERSTOWN, CO. DUBLIN

One might say that God is totally in control and nothing can happen outside His will, and yet we know that He Himself tells us that it is not His will that any should perish. And we know that He has given us the gift of free will. Of course He knows all that will happen but He is so loving He never forces Himself on us. He is a gentle, patient, intimate lover of our soul. We take comfort in the verse that says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who

love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8: 28. God is so good at turning around the evil, horrible and bad things in our lives and showing us the good, that we have often attributed the bad to Him! Praise God, He is not the author of evil in our lives. He is the best at “good.” We serve a risen victorious Saviour who has defeated every evil work. SARAH LANGRELL KILTERNAN, CO. DUBLIN

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO EDITOR@VOX.IE OR YOUR VOX, ULYSSES HOUSE, 22-24 FOLEY STREET, DUBLIN 1

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

National Forum on Evangelism Saturday 21 November 2015 At Griffith College Conference Centre, Dublin For Church leaders, evangelists and all those interested in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ Exploring fresh ideas and new expressions of evangelism in Ireland

Featuring: • • •

Opening address by Canon J John Ten practical workshops exploring Irish evangelism projects Closing panel discussion for all delegates

Early booking cost per delegate (Including lunch): €35.00

Workshops: Title

Led By

Mobilising Church for Mission

PJ Booth

Prayer Evangelism

Clifford Sullivan

Healing on the Street

Paddy Heron

Creative Evangelism – The Jesus Example:

John Eniola

New Wine – New Wineskins

David McClay

Creative Church Planting

Phil Kingsley

Socrates Café

Roy Angle

The Spirit is on the Streets

Mitch McConnell

Mission Communities

Eoghan Heaslip

Syringe: Tour of Hope

Johnny Edwards

Young Adults vey Sur

THE VOX YOUNG ADULTS’ SURVEY 2015 ADVENTUROUS, TECH-SAVVY, MOTIVATED, CONNECTED, CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE…? NARCISSISTIC, SHALLOW, ENTITLED, SPENDTHRIFT, STRESSED OUT…? Whatever your view of the Millennial Generation (those born between 1980 and 2000), they hold huge significance for the future of the church in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Some denominations have haemorrhaged young adults for decades. Other churches have attracted large numbers of passionate young believers who are longing to make a difference in their world. At VOX magazine, we wanted to find out more about what makes Millennials tick when it comes to faith, life and reality. Why have some left the church? What is important to this

complex generation? And why are some so on fire for Jesus? In partnership with Innovista (training and empowering young leaders) and the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, VOX magazine launched a survey to explore a range of issues affecting young people. Throughout this issue, we will explore some of the key findings of the research including Millennials and the Church, what young adults want to say to older Christians and what are the major concerns for this vibrant generation. We also intend to publish a more in-depth report from the findings.

WHO TOOK THE SURVEY?

WHERE WERE THEY FROM?

We had 816 responses, of which 748 were under 35 and 68 were over 35. In this introduction, we will focus on the responses from the under 35s or Millennials.

Dublin 37%

32% Male 68% Female

(nationally 7% of the population live in Cork city and its suburbs)

WHAT AGE? 3% Under 18 29% 18 - 21 28% 21 - 26 18% 26 - 30 22% 31 - 35 12

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

(nationally 39.9% of the population live in the greater Dublin area)

Cork 9.5%

Wicklow and Louth 5% Kilkenny 4% Meath 3% Limerick, Kildare, Donegal - 2.5% All other Irish counties 0.5 - 2% Offaly, Monaghan, Leitrim, Longford - less than 0.5% Northern Ireland 7% Outside of Ireland and Northern Ireland 5%

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? 514 Irish 68 British / Northern Irish 37 Half Irish 18 Adopted Irish 116 described themselves using another nationality. These included American, Canadian, British, South African, Brazilian, Filipino, South Korean, Kenyan, Venezuelan, Polish, Romanian, Dutch, German, Indian, Nigerian, Congolese, Russian, Spanish, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Italian, Malaysian, Swedish, Zimbabwean, Guatemalan, Mexican and Australian. (Nationally: According to the 2011 census, 12% of the population were non-Irish nationals with the vast majority from ten nations, all of which are represented in our research - Poland, UK, Lithuania, Latvia, Nigeria, Romania, India, the Philippines, Germany, USA)

EMPLOYMENT STATUS Student 40% Employed 37% Unemployed 8.5% Employed by a church 4% Self-employed 3% Business owner 0.5% Working with a Christian organisation 7%

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST SOCIAL ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR COMMUNITY? Depression / Mental Illness 52% Unemployment 39% Alcoholism 38% Drugs 32% Isolation / Loneliness 28% Note: When we asked this question to the over 35s, their top answers were Family Breakdown (43%), Materialism (39%), Depression / Mental Illness (37%), Suicide (34%) and Isolation (34%)

MILLENNIALS ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED! Highest level of education: 37% BA or similar degree 5% Two or more degrees 12% Masters degree 1% Doctorate or PhD 24% Leaving Cert or A level 4% Junior Cert or GCSE 15% Other higher education or vocational qualification TYPES OF CHURCH REPRESENTED

ARE YOU STILL LIVING WITH YOUR PARENTS? Yes 46% No 54% When we removed the responses from the over 30s, the difference was significant.

Yes 56% No 44% TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE? City or large town 59% Small town or rural 41%

(National comparison: According to CSO figures 66% of the population lives in the cities or city-suburbs).

Wealthy 16.5% | Mixed 77.5% | Deprived 6%

Assemblies of God 7% Baptist 5.5% Catholic 15% Christian Fellowship 6% Church of Ireland 13% Independent evangelical 7% Independent Pentecostal or charismatic 5% Methodist 4% Presbyterian 6% Others include Elim, Vineyard, Redeemed Christian Church of God and more

17 - 20% used to attend church but have now left 6% say they have never attended church OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

Young Adults vey Sur

MILLENNIALS AND THE CHURCH

20%

15%

10%

45%

Don’t attend / Never attended church

Stopped going to church*

Committed to informal Christian community but not formal church

Sporadic attendance or special occasions

Committed member with no active role in church life

Committed member with an active role in church life

*Depending on the questions, there appears to be some variation in the numbers of those who said they have left the church from 17 - 20%.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CHURCH EXPERIENCE?

42%

11%

Mixed 46% (Positive and Negative)

“I’ve had amazing experiences and great friendships at church - it’s hard to find a community quite like it anywhere else. Unfortunately, that all changed when I came out as gay. I miss church a lot but there is no place for me there, particularly not for the future when I’m married and raising a family.” “There’s just an open void. People are either old, or with their young families. It’s hard to find any place or opening for young adults.” “The church is often a caring and friendly place, willing to help those it feels ‘fit’ the Christian model, but slow to accept those who are marginalised, often who need the most support.” “I’m not a Christian now but the path the church is going on breaks my heart. If Jesus was here now I think he would want nothing to do with the modern church and he’d be giving a repeat performance of Matthew 23. The biggest issue is that it’s not about love anymore and it doesn’t feel like love anymore.” “I’m told that because I do not believe in the same thing as everyone else that I am not wanted.” “‘I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians’ - a sweeping statement but in certain churches the Christians are more judgemental and more hurtful than positive-thinking friends outside of church. They just don’t get it!”

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

VOX MAGAZINE

WHY DID YOU STOP ATTENDING?

61%

Disagreed with church teaching on some issues

52%

No longer believe in God

49%

Disillusioned by Christians (e.g. hypocrisy)

31%

Didn’t seem real / authentic

30%

Church / Christianity was not relevant to my life

28% 27%

Services were boring

Too many unanswered questions

“My personal faith is strong but I am disillusioned somewhat with church and leadership. I don’t see much in the way of discipleship or mentoring and I see a lot of people who live one way on a Sunday and another way during the week. I don’t see a huge amount of empathy or interest in areas of poverty or issues relating to marginalisation. And I definitely don’t see a generation of strong Christian leaders being built up from my generation.” “Confused and tired but trying and trusting in Jesus.” “When I first came into college, my faith hit some very rocky points and I had, and still do have, lots of questions, but God has shown me He is faithful even when I am not. He loves me very much and slowly and steadily as I learn more and read more about Him, I am growing in Him and becoming more and more passionate about Him.” “My church makes me feel wanted and makes me feel like I’m home.” “Church at its best is a worshipping, serving, loving community than manifests the presence of God to each other and those beyond the current church community. Church at its worst is a dangerous, abusive, controlling, fearful, inward looking, ossified structure that has less in common with life-giving water and more in common with a jackboot perpetually stamping on a wildflower.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT FAITH EXPERIENCE?

42%

Passionate follower of Jesus

31%

Solid growth and development in recent months

28%

Happy with how my faith is working out in “real life”

28%

Supported and mentored by older Christians

27%

Tension between faith and “real life”

25%

Wanting to lead others

23%

Struggling with questions

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

R E X O B P THE SOA

VOX MAGAZINE

BY DR KEN BAKER

SIGNALLING TO THE PARTNERS My father described his wartime experiences as a young have a friend who once said, “If people sergeant in the commandos. His connection to the other men concentrated on the really important things in life, in the unit was unlike anything he experienced since. During there’d be a shortage of fishing rods.” My own view basic training these men came from all over, with different is closer to Steven Wright’s: “There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.” religious backgrounds, different accents, different family traditions, and different political views. Often they disliked There’s plenty about fishing in the Bible and you can each other and even came to blows in early training. But easily empathise with those guys who “toiled all night and when called into combat, all differences were left to one side. caught nothing.” You can also imagine a slight rolling of the They saw fellow soldiers wounded and killed, and suddenly eyes when Jesus suggested they try again. everything changed. Religion, politics, family background, As the story goes, they cast their nets and were and accents didn’t mean anything. Those barriers were astonished because the catch was both immediate and broken down to the point that huge. So huge, in fact, that they they would risk their lives for one “signalled to their partners in another. the other boat to come and help RELIGION, POLITICS, FAMILY BACKGROUND, What made the difference? them.” They had a shared mission. It’s a parable for the AND ACCENTS DIDN’T MEAN ANYTHING. How do we signal to Christians in Ireland in 2015. In the partners? We begin by the face of weariness (“we have acknowledging that shared toiled“) and discouragement mission. We abandon the spirit of (“and caught nothing“), we competition between churches. We find ways of networking. hear the voice of Jesus bidding us try again - on His terms We develop friendships with Christians who believe - and the harvest is plentiful…immediate… and then, they differently. We pray together. “signalled to the partners in the other boat.” Bonhoeffer said, “I can no longer condemn or hate a We are partners in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he I remember a wonderful causes me.” paragraph I read from Alan I read this somewhere, too: “Before it is too late, go Hirsch and Michael Frost‘s out there and find someone who, in your opinion, believes, book The Shaping of assumes, or considers certain things very strongly and Things to Come: “There very differently from you and just have a basic honest is a new breed of Christian conversation. It will do both of you good.” leadership, young and feisty, willing Of course, the main reason for signalling to the partners to experiment with audacious new is because the “catch” itself is so very important. versions of Christian communities within unchurched subcultures. Some will fail, others will have great success. But… they are more likely to succeed Dr Ken Baker is an author and pastor when legitimised, affirmed and supported by the more living in the Midlands of Ireland, conventional, established churches… it’s time for the church seeking to develop fresh expressions of the to abandon its spirit of competition and acknowledge that kingdom of God. these experimental groups have much to teach the rest of the Christian community about what it means to engage our culture, incarnationally and missionally.”

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

REALITY

VOX MAGAZINE

FROM IRELAND WITH LOVE A SHOEBOX MIRACLE - 16 YEARS ON! BY NIALL BARRY

THAT BOY WAS ARSEN, WHO STILL REMEMBERS THE EXCITEMENT OF RECEIVING GIFTS IN A SHOEBOX ALL THE WAY FROM IRELAND. The year was 1999 and Ireland was preparing for a new millennium. Our economy was on the up, and despite fears about the ‘millennium bug’ we were gearing up for a new century with lots of optimism. In Armenia, things were different. It was just nine years since they broke away from the Soviet Union and became a republic. The shadow of communism still loomed large and life was difficult. The results of the 1989 earthquake that killed 45,000 people and made over 500,000 homeless were still being felt. In Yerevan, the capital city, life was hard. Most people lived in poor housing, with little money and unemployment was high. One of those people was nine-yearold Arsen Khachatryan, whose family were struggling to make ends meet. There was not much food, not many clothes and, for Arsen, there was very little to look forward to. It seemed as if the world had forgotten about Armenia. Back in Ireland, eight-year-old Claire Fahy’s school in Tuam, Co Galway decided to take part in the Christmas Shoebox Appeal. Together with her family, Claire excitedly assembled her box. She decided to give it to a boy aged between four and nine years old, and wondered if it would go all the way to Africa or to one of the countries in Eastern Europe. Carefully packing her gifts, the last thing she put in was a note with her name and where she was from. She couldn’t help wondering about the boy who would receive her box. That boy was Arsen, who still remembers the excitement of receiving gifts in a shoebox all the way from Ireland. Against all the odds, the one thing he kept through the years was the note from Claire that he’d found in the top of his box. Sixteen years later, in 2015, Arsen is married with a little daughter and runs his own business in Yerevan. Claire works for the local vet in Tuam. Finding the note again, he decided to try and contact the girl who sent him this shoebox gift, to say thank you and to share what it had meant to him. Armed with the note and a little research he found Claire on Facebook! Earlier this year the story went viral on social media and was picked up by Irish, UK, German and Armenian newspapers and magazines. Ray D’Arcy even surprised Claire live on RTE radio by having Arsen on the other end of a phone line from Armenia. But they still had never met and that’s where Team Hope stepped in. (Three million shoeboxes later, Team Hope is still sending these gifts to needy children in 24 countries) With the help of Turkish Airlines, we flew Arsen to Dublin in September, where they met for the first time and launched this year’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal. Team Hope can’t promise a fairy-tale meeting for every box but we can promise that every box will mean the earth to a boy or girl in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union or Africa. So this year, will you share your Christmas? Share a little hope, the real meaning of Christmas and a lot of God’s love with someone who has a lot less than you do, and send a shoebox gift as part of Team Hope’s Christmas Shoebox Appeal. You can contact Team Hope on (01) 2940222 or www.teamhope.ie. Niall Barry is the CEO of Team Hope and Irish Christian development aid charity, which runs the Christmas Shoebox Appeal and a wide range of other projects throughout the year. OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

FAITH

WHAT WORKS FOR YOU? BY NICK PARK

e have to share the Good News in ways that show it is both Good and News.” (Rick Warren) Billy Graham was once asked how many different methods of evangelism there were. He responded by asking, “How many people are there in the world?” Upon being told that global population at that time was 6 billion, he replied, “Then that’s how many different methods of evangelism are needed.” Over the years, I’ve encountered a lot of guilt among Christians concerning evangelism. We know that we are supposed to share our faith, but often our attempts at doing so are awkward, embarrassing, and seem to turn people away from Jesus. We’ve read books or heard sermons that push one method of witnessing as the right way and then, if we find it doesn’t work for us, we feel that we must be the problem. Maybe we don’t have enough faith? Or we aren’t spiritual enough? Maybe we don’t love people enough? As a Christian leader, I’ve seen people filled with joy when they find a way of sharing their faith that works for them and touches the lives of others. One member of our church shared, “I never thought I could actually win someone else to Christ. And I definitely never imagined that I could enjoy myself so much in the process!” Evangelical Alliance Ireland is holding a National Evangelism Forum in November to showcase different approaches to evangelism that are working in Ireland. It doesn’t matter if you are a student, unemployed, CEO of a company or a retiree; whether you belong to an urban church with multiple video screens and contemporary worship, or are part of a traditional rural congregation, God wants you to discover ways to share your faith that are both enjoyable and effective. The workshop leaders come from all kinds of churches and backgrounds, and our keynote speaker is Canon J. John. Join us for the National Evangelism Forum at Griffith College Conference Centre, Dublin, on Saturday, 21 November. To register visit www.evangelical.ie.

“I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD ACTUALLY WIN SOMEONE ELSE TO CHRIST. AND I DEFINITELY NEVER IMAGINED THAT I COULD ENJOY MYSELF SO MUCH IN THE PROCESS!”

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

CONFESSIONS OF A FEINT SAINT

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Coming of Age By Annmarie Miles id you see them? The fresh faced cherubs in their stiff uniform jumpers; school trousers with the tramlines ironed down the front of them, pleated skirts almost to the floor, with just the flash of white socks in shiny shoes? Facebook was flooded with ‘back to school’ pics – kids off for their first day to a new class, some to a new school. There was none of that in my day, you know. You waited until the “school photo” time, that’s if your mother could afford the school photo. Oh great! I’m channelling my father now. It wasn’t until secondary school that I came into my own. I grew in confidence and got involved in all sorts of stuff (that didn’t involve running or kicking a ball). I was on the Amnesty International committee, the Women’s committee (at 14?), the student council; I ran the school choir for a while and had lead roles in the school plays in my last two years. I even became ‘mates’ with some of my teachers; I was sorry to leave secondary school. And if you’re thinking I sound like one of those “twonks” you knew in school - yes, I was that person. I wasn’t NEARLY as cool as I am now. *coughs* Age is a funny thing. I’m not sure if I’ve ever shared this with you before – but I was surprised to reach my 40th birthday. I never thought I’d make it. I was sure that, through sickness or sadness, I would die in my 30’s. So I was delighted to be 40. Hence the shindig I had to celebrate it. I don’t think anyone knew how significant that night was for me. Although it’s hard to see the significance of anything at an 80’s themed party – too many luminous hairbands and plastic bracelets. If we take in to account some of the things that we hear about age… that it’s only a number, and you’re only as young as you feel, that it’s not the years in your life but the life in your years, and youth is wasted on the young. And bearing in mind that you’re only young once and life is what you make it... and… well… I’m not really sure what those things mean in the context of eternity. But I do know that God’s blessings are for every age and stage. Dreams, visions and the strength to carry them out – He provides it all. He’s a God who wants us to grow in our faith, yet remain childlike in it. So I don’t have to totally grow up! Thank God for that; I’m only 40 something.

“I do know that God’s blessings are for every age and stage.”

Annmarie Miles is originally from Tallaght, now living in her husband Richard’s homeland, Wales. If you’d like to read more between VOX Magazines, her blog is called Just Another Christian Woman Talking Through Her Hat. The Long & the Short of it, her first collection of short stories, can be found at www. annmariemiles.com/books, or you can pick it up in Footprints bookshops in Dublin. OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

We wanted to know what issues were of most concern to Young Adults in the world, in their local community and in the church. We then compared this with the over-35s who completed our survey. What we found was that the top two issues of concern were different in every case and that many issues of major concern to one group were way down the list of the other!

Young Adults vey Sur

GENERATION GAP: WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST? Human trafficking / Slavery

43%

WHAT GLOBAL ISSUES CONCERN YOU MOST?

42%

Moral decline

35%

40%

Rise of ISIS

Extreme poverty

49%

39%

Individualism

33%

67%

WHAT GLOBAL ISSUES CONCERN YOU MOST?

“There is a tremendous gap between your generation and ours that you never adequately reconciled: tradition vs newness; necessity vs opportunity and dream-chasing; technology as a means of advancement vs social media as a means of retracting from normalcy and assuming alter-egos in the search for acceptance, love, and relationship.”

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25%

26%

Moral decline

“For my generation, Christianity and the good news has become synonymous with social and cultural conservatism. Mission is not about getting people to conform to a set of rules (many of which come from the sensibilities from a previous generation and not necessarily thoughtful reflection upon the Christian narrative’s impact on culture today). We have become known for what we are against but not what we positively represent. I speak to lots of church leaders regularly but often I don’t feel like I can talk openly about many issues.”

War

Climate change

Rise of ISIS (or other fundamental religious groups)

Extreme poverty

UNDER 35s

OVER 35s

Human trafficking / Slavery

31%

War

15%

“Leadership isn’t a relay race where some wait until they are ‘done’ before passing on the leadership baton to younger folk, nor should you be saying ‘I’m too old… it’s time to let the younger ones in church lead.’ Ministry in all aspects should be intergenerational as we offer the gifts, and each of us has God-given talents not based on age. This means a lot of ways of doing traditional church may have to and will change through the various heart passions of all generations adding to the mix, but change shouldn’t mean the pendulum swinging to the other side as older generations are still part of the body and have the wisdom we need to hear.”

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WHAT ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR COMMUNITY CONCERN YOU MOST? Drugs / Alcoholism

Unemployment

37%

47%

Suicide

36%

UNDER 35s

Family breakdown

32%

Homelessness

30%

(only 10% of over 35s)

(Only 16% of under 35s)

Family breakdown

50%

Preservation of marriage

46%

Drugs / Alcoholism

38%

Suicide

38%

WHAT ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR COMMUNITY CONCERN YOU MOST?

Unemployment

28%

Homophobic abuse / Bullying

22%

(only 8% of over 35s)

Greed/ Consumerism

20%

OVER 35s

WHAT ISSUES FACING THE CHURCH CONCERN YOU MOST? UNDER 35s Judgemental attitudes

44% (only 20% of over 35s)

33% (only 8% of over 35s) Irrelevance (stuck in the past) 31% Lack of younger leaders 30% Lack of women in leadership 24% (only 10% of over 35s) Importance of sharing the gospel 24% Hypocrisy

OVER 35s Importance of sharing the gospel

65%

43% (only 21% of under 35s) Lack of younger leaders 41% Holiness and personal morality 39% (only 16% of under 35s) Irrelevance (stuck in the past) 26% Disunity 22% (similarâ&#x20AC;Ś 23% of under 35s but others were Theology / Sound doctrine

more important) NORTHERN IRELAND While we found that in the other priority areas, there was very little difference between Millennials from Northern Ireland and those living in the Republic of Ireland, in this case two other concerns were added to their top four.

Their top four answers were: Judgemental attitudes

37% Hypocrisy 34% Sectarianism 34%

44%

Disunity

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Young Adults vey Sur

DREAMING DREAMS WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO

SAY TO OLDER CHRISTIANS AND CHURCH LEADERS BUT NEVER GOT THE CHANCE?

“Try to understand and listen to young people before rebuking them or giving advice.” Of the Young Adults who were attending church, 274 left comments in answer to this question. We have spent time carefully reading through every comment to identify some of the common themes.

WE NEED YOU! THANK YOU!

We were moved by many expressions of gratitude and respect. Here’s just a taste of more than 50 comments... “Thank you for your prayers, wisdom, example and leadership in hard times. Thank you for enduring. Thank you for what you poured into my life.” “You’ve saved my life!” “Thank you for everything you do, especially the stuff you do that no one ever sees. I would love to spend more time with you, learning from you and doing life with you; but I’m often too afraid to ask because you seem to be busy.” “I love that you are still passionate about knowing who Jesus is after all these years, and I hope and pray to be like you.” “You are an inspiration to me.”

There were more than 80 comments asking for help, support and encouragement from older Christians. Here are just a few: “It’s quite challenging growing up / being a young Christian in Ireland today so we need encouragement and discipleship from those who have grown to know Jesus intimately over many years.” “I would love you to be vulnerable, share your mistakes so we can learn. Show us your scars so we know we are not alone.” “Mentor younger leaders. They don’t know what you know and need guidance as they start out. Check in with them and make sure they aren’t struggling alone. It could save them from being disillusioned and maybe from walking away from ministry altogether.” “There are so many bad things in life and I need your help badly.” “Us younger Christians want to connect with you and be mentored by you. We respect you and know you have wisdom to share with us - please do! Let’s be friends!”

“Share your wisdom, share your stories; “Thank you for blazing the trail. we don’t need another lecture-sermon. Be You have done terrific work and I vulnerable. Be authentic.“ am thankful for the roads you so faithfully walked.” “If every mature Christian committed to a discipling friendship with one younger person (in terms of age or faith) the church could be transformed.” 22

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GIVE US A CHANCE!

Many Millennials want to lead but don’t feel they are being given the opportunity to do so. “Have high expectations of Christian young people and encourage them to meet them.” “Give us opportunities to try our ideas but also advice and guidance, and pick us up when we make mistakes.” “Don’t underestimate us.” “Give young people the chance to surprise you.” “I was willing and capable of serving much younger and never got the chance!” “Leaders often shoot down ideas because they’re not in their box of God or personal experience. As long as it doesn’t contradict the word of God, we shouldn’t be so quick to write off how God may be speaking to someone else. God is a creative God and He loves to amaze us.” “Allow us to become more involved. Don’t discourage me when I express my faith in an unusual way. God made me different.”

Photos: Greg Richardson & Sam Lindsay

VOX MAGAZINE

Older Christians were once young adults too... Here some early gatherings from the YMCA, 12C Abbey Street and Boys Evangelical Camps

CHANGE IS A GOOD THING!

While there were a number of expressions of value and appreciation for the traditions of the church, many more talked of the need for change.

DON’T JUDGE

A recurrent theme was a concern about judgementalism within the church. Here are a few of many: “You are not the judge; God is. God knows the Church isn’t without sin, and [leaders] should reflect on that before condemning the “sins” of others.” “Let those without sin cast the first stone.” “The way you have thrown young people out of the church due to their sexuality is horrific. Church is supposed to show love to all!” “Be less judgemental of those who sin. People do not respond well if you try to force your morals on them, especially if they don’t believe in God.” “I’m pretty sure when Jesus said ‘love your neighbour’, He didn’t mean unless they were gay.” “Telling people they are wrong or sinning doesn’t help them but only serves to alienate them further from the supposed reality of a loving God; it makes them feel inadequate or spoiled and not worthy of a relationship with God or not deserving to be part of a church community.”

“Culture changes, society changes but often the church is stuck in time.” “Just because God did it that way (when you were younger) doesn’t mean He is doing the SAME thing now. In fact, the Bible says He is doing a NEW thing!” “People, society and community change so the church has to change too - this doesn’t have to happen overnight or exclude people who currently go to church but we cannot ignore the need to move with the times. Don’t be afraid of change. A church can be an amazingly welcoming, peaceful, vibrant, inclusive place for people of all ages and backgrounds.” “Changes are necessary if we want to see church growth. Those changes may be uncomfortable at first, but Jesus’ commission to all of us is to preach the gospel and to live it.” “If we don’t change now we will be closing this place up in 10-15 years.” “Don’t be afraid to be different; it’s not necessary to do what your grandparents did! Try new songs. Turn the chairs the other way. Believe… like really passionately believe… that God can move in our land. Stop filling the week with meetings and programmes; put your all into one real encounter with Jesus… The New Testament church met together to teach new Christians, to build each other up for the week ahead, to experience the Holy Spirit… it was not to hear a list of announcements and get the rota for flower arranging!”

QUESTIONS

Here are some of many questions the young adults had: “Why can’t all the churches in the locality come together to pray or have more unity?” “What’s more important; people or your structures?” “Where has that fire and passion gone?” “How can church leaders read the words of Jesus but feel it is appropriate to operate secretive, authoritarian and controlling churches?” “I would love to ask church leaders across the island of Ireland why they were not standing as one as peacemakers during the Troubles on this island.” “How could you just stand by when so much abuse was happening in the church?” “Who is the next generation you are handing the church to?”

“Not all change is compromise.”

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

LIFE

THE SURF PROJECT

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

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ono Griffin was a PE teacher and dedicated surfer. Teaching in a secondary school in Manchester, he knew he wasn’t living God’s way. A real turn around came in his life when a retired surgeon came up to him in church and said, “You have a rare talent and it is being wasted as a PE teacher.” Within six months, Jono was appointed as a youth pastor for North Dublin Methodist church in Clontarf. “When they hired me, I was scared to pray out loud and had never led a Bible study. I had to learn by doing,” Jono admitted. “The young people I was working with were not from a church background. My use of sport and my training as a teacher in coping with challenging behaviour stood me in good stead.” “When I started youth ministry, I didn’t feel qualified. My pastor at the time said, ‘Jono, just be who you are. Kids will sniff a fake a mile away.’ If I didn’t understand things, I’d say, ‘I don’t know.’ Too often, young leaders think they have to have all answers.” After a while, Jono noticed that a lot of Christian youth events were geared for Christians, rather than for those outside the church. “I began to ask, ‘How can I bridge the gap for those who are not yet Christians?’ I felt God was saying, ‘Use your surfing to serve me.’” Jono asked the Methodist Youth Department to support him and when they held their first surf event, 80 teenagers showed up. “The format combined surf lessons with workshops and Bible teaching,” Jono explained. “Later we launched five-day summer camps.” The programme begins with a morning “thought for the day” from the Bible followed by one or two surfing lessons depending on the weather. Jono is a qualified surf instructor and The Surf Project is accredited by the Irish Surf Association. In the evening, they run a “living life to the full” workshop. “John 10:10 is our motto. We’re seeking to create a place and space for young people to encounter God.” The team finds creative ways to engage with the young people. One night after they had been studying the story of Jesus calming the storm, they went down to the beach. The young people wrote their prayers on the sand where the tide would wash them away the next morning. The main emphasis for Jono, his wife Beth and the young leaders working with them, is to come alongside the young people. “If faith is part of you, it comes out of you,” Jono said. “Ultimately, we want to release young people to take their place in the church.”

MAKING WAVES

As The Surf Project developed, Jono created a small group programme for young people called “WAVES”. “We are equipping and empowering young people to take ownership and responsibility for their faith. We have got to turn away from entertaining kids and instead encourage young people to own their faith for themselves. “The young people come together in their “WAVE” group - a minimum of three and maximum of seven people. They ask questions about their life and faith. How is my

life with God and how is my life with others? How am I serving and loving others? As the young people answer those questions honestly, they start to take ownership and responsibility for their faith. “We have used the analogy of the waves in the ocean. They start with the blowing of the wind. A wave cannot happen without a move of the Holy Spirit.” One teenager was attending a WAVE group in Dublin. When it came to the question, “Am I listening to God through His word?” he admitted, “If I’m honest I have not read my Bible for three months.” He was determined to make a change and when the group met a month later, this young man was reading the Bible a whole lot more. Jono has developed a resource booklet for WAVES. “It is a model for multiplying. In larger groups, young people don’t have the same intimate opportunities to share. For that reason, if a “WAVE” gets larger than seven people, it has to split into two groups. At the heart of the ministry is discipleship. We are helping people to live life to the full every day.”

WE’RE SEEKING TO CREATE A PLACE AND SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENCOUNTER GOD.

Sarah (16) and Sean (17) from Dublin along with Cathy (16) from Navan have been coming to surf camps with The Surf Project for a number of years. They told VOX about their experiences. “I love that it is completely different to any other camp,” Sarah shared. “The leaders are really welcoming. My faith grows a lot stronger through this. I remember the teaching because it is done in such a good way. They are not rushed and you have your own time to talk to God. Everybody is very honest.” Cathy added, “I’ve made some really close friends at the camps over the years. I come for the people. I never came for the surfing. At home, I have no friends who are Christians. This is how I meet with my Christian friends.” “It is a good amalgamation of the faith and stuff like surfing,” Sean from Dublin explained. “I like that it is always the same message of living life to the full and how you can go about doing that. Back at home, we have a WAVE group and we try to meet once a month. It is a bit of a challenge because of geography and we have to rely on public transport.” That same model applies to the internship programme in which young leaders learn by doing. “Matthew is a perfect example. He led a teaching session on Zacchaeus and it was OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

Face to Face with Matthew Hewston Eighteen-year-old Matthew Hewston from Manorhamilton joined The Surf Project as a summer intern. In July, VOX editor Ruth Garvey-Williams met up with him on the north coast where he was helping to run a youth camp.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I’m 18 and I just did my Leaving Cert in June. I attend Calry Church in Sligo.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE SURF PROJECT INTERNSHIP?

I came to faith through the CEF camps and since then I’ve been looking to give God everything. I first heard about The Surf Project at CEF. It is a mobile surf ministry, which explores what it means to live life to the full through the sport and culture of surfing. I was really taken aback by the way they do ministry. They are so honest and professional but also very relational. At the end of last year, I told God, “I want to give everything to you. I don’t want to hold back.” The internship was an answer to prayer - an opportunity to give. I felt the nudge from God that He wanted me to do this for the summer. I prayed about it, got the interview and here I am.

WHAT DOES THE INTERNSHIP INVOLVE?

I’m one of five summer interns. We do surf camps, day events and kids’ clubs along with the leaders. We’re involved in all aspects of the ministry from Bible teaching, organising games, preparing snacks, washing wetsuits and surfing. I believe when you are outside your comfort zone you grow the most. I’ve learnt more about myself and about who God is.

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU?

It’s been a big summer for me. The internship encourages us to see where our gifting lies. One of the highlights was having the opportunity to do some teaching, to explore a Bible text and to think about the best way to communicate it to others. I was talking about Zacchaeus. When he met Jesus, he was radically changed. For us, it is easy to go to a Christian camp, but does it change us? I always try to make the teaching personal. I want to ground it in reality and keep it real. We don’t want to be fake or wearing a mask of religion.

WHAT HELPS YOU STAND STRONG FOR GOD?

In the 21st century in Ireland, people are pretty hostile to faith. It is hard in that regard and being one of the only Christians in school has been tough. For me, going to a youth group in Sligo and being part of the church has really helped a lot.

WHAT COMES NEXT FOR YOU?

I started a small business in TY and won awards for it. I’m hoping to study Marketing Innovation and Technology at DCU – finding ways to take new ideas to the market and supporting creativity and innovation. I really want to be a Christian presence in the office.

WHAT WOULD YOU LOVE TO SEE HAPPENING IN IRELAND?

I want to see local churches that are welcoming and full of God’s love and places where people can learn what it means to live lives to the full.

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

THERE IS NO BLUEPRINT FOR PIONEER MISSION. WE ARE KIND OF MAKING IT UP AS WE GO ALONG.

amazing. He thanked us for the opportunity but it got me thinking, ‘Why is this the first time as an 18-year-old that he has been able to teach?’ He did a devotional on Psalm 139 and blew us away,” Jono explained.

PURSUING EXCELLENCE

Today, The Surf Project is working towards becoming sustainable as a ministry serving the wider church across the island of Ireland. “There is no blueprint for pioneer mission. We are kind of making it up as we go along,” Jono admits. “We’ve begun to do one-day events with youth groups and schools and we’ll do custom-made events for churches. Sometimes we turn a church hall into a surf lounge - a nice and relaxed space for people to encounter God. We want to give God our excellence. In church, we can have a poverty mentality. We are serious about what we do.” When they started out they had a €50,000 deficit in order to buy 100 wetsuits, 40 boards, gazebos and the purpose-built van. Within six months, God had provided all of that money! “That was a real confirmation. Once we stepped out in faith, the door opened,” Jono shared. To find out more or to book an event with The Surf Project contact them through their website on www.thesurfproject.org.

IBI has a course to suit you! Full-time, part-time and flexible study options Study in a unique learning environment Validated courses Contact Sarah for more information sarah@ibi.ie 01-8069060

www.IBI.ie

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

Young Adults vey Sur

DREAMING DREAMS DREAMING DREAMS What do our Young Adults want to see happening in the church? What are their dreams for the future? This question evoked a massive response from more than 300 people in our survey. Similar themes were repeated.

37% WANT THE CHURCH TO EMBRACE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY I want to see… “…a church that makes a difference in the community. To show people what it is to love unconditionally.” “…people full of the Holy Spirit propelled outward, being Christ’s hands and feet wherever they are. I want society to know that we are His disciples by the way we love one another.” “A truly outward-focused Jesusloving community that changes the community and the city.” “…my church reaching out to those considered unreachable, lost causes.” “… a community that really welcomes people. I think we need to go out to the community more. I long to see a church that stands up for what is right and just: for people living in poverty, for the oppressed and the marginalised. I want to see a church that tells the world about Jesus.”

26% WANT THEIR CHURCHES TO GROW IN NUMBER AND IN DEPTH

“…more evangelism, more courage in sharing the gospel and more radical-looking lives as we live it out. I would love to see young people rise up and set an example of what it means to live fully for Jesus. I would love to see people coming to the Lord as He does signs and wonders through us and as we reach out with the good news of Jesus.” “…every single Irish person reached with the Gospel, growing in following Jesus, fellowshipping with other believers and fishing for people. I’d love to see Christians who’ve broken away from church be welcomed back into fellowship; we all need each other.” “…a people more on fire for the Gospel.”

18% ARE LONGING FOR MORE YOUNG ADULTS IN THE CHURCH I want to see… “More young people to start attending and to be serious about their faith and seeking Jesus.” “More Christians of my age.”

12.5% EXPRESSED A LONGING FOR A MORE LOVING, INCLUSIVE AND LESS JUDGEMENTAL CHURCH

I want to see…

“Real growth rather than movement of people between different congregations.”

“…a day when no poor soul feels forced to get up from their seat and walk out the door because of a judgemental sermon born from hatred and manipulation of the word of God. A little piece of my heart goes with them as they leave.”

“Growth and development in reaching communities and in strengthening those within the church.”

18% ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EVANGELISM AND MISSION I want to see… “…broken and lost people who don’t know Christ coming through those doors and receiving Christ as their Saviour!” 28

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“… our church develop as a community that genuinely welcomes people of all backgrounds, especially the LGBT community, and is driven to address justice issues in solidarity with those who suffer and are oppressed in Ireland and beyond - to be a community who embodies the coming of God’s kingdom in our words and especially in our deeds and rhythms of our lives.” “…more compassion, and a willingness to move away from criticising others.”

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I LONG TO SEE A CHURCH THAT STANDS UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST: FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY, FOR THE OPPRESSED AND THE MARGINALISED. I WANT TO SEE A CHURCH THAT TELLS THE WORLD ABOUT JESUS.”

11% ARE DREAMING OF REVIVAL I want to see… “…hearts being changed through understanding Jesus and following from that lives being changed.” “...Christ exalted and from this, a genuine outflow of His life being lived out in my congregation. The flame should never go out.”

10% WANT GREATER CHURCH UNITY I want to see… “…a church united despite denominations; a church that is inter-generational, diverse, looking outward, growing, trying new things, genuinely loving each other and faithful to the Holy Spirit.” “…a growth of trust and solidarity, which will lead us to reconciliation. I long to see unity in our diversity which springs out of humility and reconciliation.” “…unity amongst the churches what unites us is SO much bigger than what divides us.” “…people from different denominations forgetting their differences and moving forward in conversation and dialogue.”

AND HERE ARE A FEW STAND-ALONE COMMENTS… I long to see… …a generation of young people passionate and sold out for Christ and changing Irish society. …a church in which every member is passionate for God and where we radiate the light of God unashamedly. …people accepted no matter what has happened in their past. I’d love to see people use their words to build people up and speak God’s promises over them. I’d love to see people not just be

benchwarmers but wanting to get involved. I want to see a church that isn’t just a Sunday service but living as citizens of heaven every moment of every day, using every opportunity to overflow love, peace and joy.” “…a church that passionately follows the voice of God to bring hope to a broken world and life to the body of Christ.” “…the generation gap bridged by unity and equality. An end to the us-and-them mentality.” “…every one of our church members on fire. I want to see everyone pick up the cross and put God first. I want to see selfless passionate people who want to spread the Gospel.” “…a community that cheers each other on, engages in life together and challenges one another in our faith. A culture of honour between younger and older generations.Kids and young people released in building the Kingdom now, not tomorrow. The local community encountering the transforming power and love of God and young adults released and developed into leadership.” “…us getting our haphazard selves together and planting churches all over Ireland who love Jesus so much that it is infectious.” “… ordinary people having their lives truly changed and inspired to extraordinary purposes in Christ.” “… Christians stripping back culture from faith, so that church does not seem like a place that is open only to people with a certain personality or identity. Creativity in music and stories and art, because we are made in the image of a creator God. Depression lifted and reality celebrated and explored and not brushed over. Fear banished and laughter continuing. People expectant of really unexpected things, and thankful when they happen.” “… life-transforming encounters with God for all who come through the doors. People being actively helped to develop their faith and understanding of who God is.” “… people becoming more outward focused; for the church to change from a social club to a place where rescue happens.” “…everyone actively engaged and serving as a response to what God has done in their lives. I would love to see us move away from the “but-that’s-how-it’s-always-been-done” attitude and instead think more strategically about how we do church. What would most benefit those who are outside the church?” OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

FAITH

Stop

IMITATING,

Start

INNOVATING!

FINDING A UNIQUELY IRISH MODEL OF MINISTRY By Scott Evans

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

VOX MAGAZINE

everal years ago, a mission categories. The first is the established ways of engaging with ancient approaches agency invited me to give a mainline denominations (like the Catholic to worship, particularly Ignatian meditation cross-cultural training day to Church and the Church of Ireland) who and lectio divina (a traditional Benedictine a short-term mission team have experienced a severe decline in both practice of Scripture reading, meditation working in the south east of Ireland. As attendance and influence over the past 30-40 and prayer), and it has transformed my own someone who is passionate about mission years. devotional life and my ministry to students. and loves teaching young adults, I was The second category is the ‘imported’ In a world that has become so noisy, my delighted to be involved and that they denominations: church plants or Christian first instinct is to raise the volume of my wanted an Irish youth worker to prepare communities based on models that are ministry with louder worship music and to them for outreach. thriving elsewhere. Some follow Willow pack my talks with more stimulating media. I put a lot into my preparation. Over our Creek’s seeker-sensitive model, some What I now realise is that in a world of sessions together, we covered the history follow Saddleback’s ‘purpose-driven’ ethos overstimulation, silence is golden. and legacy of Catholicism and Protestantism and countless others. And yet, from the While the world competes for our in the Republic, the religious experience of conversations I’ve had with church leaders attention with rock-splitting winds, the Irish teen and approaches to mission and or attendees, it seems that the majority earthquakes and fires, I feel like Elijah discipleship that I had seen work and that I of these approaches don’t gain the same finding God in the ‘sound of sheer silence’ had seen fail. traction here. (1 Kings 19:12). It’s counter-cultural and After four hours of teaching and There is a cultural disconnect — feels counter-intuitive and it has turned my conversation, I Skyped with the missionary particularly when it comes to reaching youth ministry upside-down. supervisor who had asked me to facilitate and young adults. The question that I find As with all personal stories, this is the training, and he had one burning myself asking these days is, “What does descriptive rather than prescriptive. I’m not question about what we had covered: innovative Irish ministry look like?” saying that we all need to start meditating or “Did you tell them that ‘fanny-pack’ means If ‘traditional’ churches tend to that all churches should seek silence. That something different over there?” perpetuate what has been done before and would be both ridiculous and hypocritical. This, of course, is a valid concern. ‘imported’ churches tend to imitate what is What I am saying is that we will never be Transatlantic differences in slang have done elsewhere, what does it look like for able to imitate a perfect model for Irish led to some very embarrassing moments us to innovate for the sake of the Kingdom ministry. It must be born and crafted here, for well-meaning mission teams. What is here? in our blood, sweat, tears and prayers; in more of a concern, however, is when we What I often forget about ministry our experiments that work well and that fail assume that slang is the primary difference models that have succeeded elsewhere is that spectacularly. between Ireland and other English-speaking they are not developed in a vacuum. They Have you ever experienced one of those countries around the world. are the result of blood, sweat, prayers and distinctly Irish moments? It’s something I We may share the same TV shows, have never seen or heard of happening gossip about the same celebrities and anywhere else in the world. It usually read the same books and magazines happens in a pub in the wee hours but, when it comes to faith, we WHAT DOES INNOVATIVE IRISH MINISTRY LOOK LIKE? when someone starts singing an old come from different places. While song, an ancient tale of love or loss most people would acknowledge or both, and a sacred silence falls on that Christianity has lost its place of those gathered. It feels like what the privilege in the English-speaking world, tears over years of trying and failing to reach ancient Celtic Christians called a ‘thin place,’ Christians from the United States, Australia a community. As tempted as I am to imitate that rare space where the distance has closed and the United Kingdom are figuring out their methods, I find myself reminded that between Heaven and Earth. how to do ministry in countries where my calling is to make my own mistakes as I Somewhere in our cultural psyche exists Protestantism is in decline. try, fail and try again to do ministry in my a longing for these thin places, a longing In Ireland, we’re struggling to figure context. that causes us to burst into song. These out what it looks like to do and be church A few months ago, I had the privilege moments cannot be imitated nor can they be in the void left by the waning influence of of helping a friend lead a retreat in a Dublin replicated but the potential for them exists, the Catholic Church. In terms of religious girls’ secondary school. After the break, he just below the surface, in each of us. My gut experience, upbringing (and baggage), Irish asked the students to leave their seats and feeling is that innovative Irish ministry will culture has more in common with Spain, lie on the ground for a guided meditation, only thrive when we stop looking elsewhere France and Italy than it does with the US, something I had never experienced before. for ideas and, instead, tap into the latent the UK or Australia. Inwardly, I scoffed at the idea of teens being longing that has been here along. One of the findings of VOX’s Young interested in such a thing but, much to my Adults’ Survey has given me much food surprise, they left their seats and filled the for thought. Just over half of the 748 floor in complete silence. As I lay at the front respondents, despite being from different of the room, after relaxing my body and Scott Evans works as a contexts, counties and denominations, focusing on my breathing, I found myself chaplain through Holy Trinity named the ‘irrelevance of the Church to engaging with my friend’s gracious words Rathmines. He has written modern life’ as one of the three biggest about the love and goodness of God with three books, Closer Still, spiritual issues facing their community. The a freshness I hadn’t felt in months. It was Beautiful Attitudes and more I think about this, the more sense it only when he invited us to ‘remember a time Failing From The Front and is 1/3 of the team makes. when you were a little girl’ that I was jolted on The Graveyard Shift podcast. Connect with In my experience, one can (with out of the experience of spending time in him at www.scottevans.ie / @notscottevans. crudeness and inexactitude) divide silence and wonder! Christian movements in Ireland into two Since that day, I have been exploring new

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

FAITH

DEVELOPING LEADERS, INSPIRING MISSION BY SAM MOORE

PHOTO: AGAPE IRELAND / KRISTA KIRBY

Innovista Ireland identifies and equips young leaders to bring hope to their communities. Working across a wide range of churches in Ireland and Northern Ireland, Innovista runs a range of training and mentoring programmes for young leaders. Partnering with VOX magazine for the Young Adults’ Survey 2015, Innovista Ireland will use the findings to respond to the needs of young leaders across the island. Here Innovista Ireland National Director Sam Moore reflects on the research findings. 32

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

eading through the responses from 18-35s on their dreams for the church, I was struck by the constant longing for a church that would be engaged in the local community, that serves that community and works for its transformation; a church whose focus is beyond the walls of the building. I was struck too by the encouragement to older leaders and the pleas for vulnerability, to be mentored, to be trained and to be given opportunities to lead and to experiment. I am filled with hope and nervous excitement as I consider the present and the future. I’m excited by the desire to see lives transformed by Jesus and churches engaging with and serving local communities. I’m excited that 18-35s want to learn from and with the older generation, that they dream of a church that is honest, welcoming and cross-generational. I’m filled with hope by the desire to see local churches work together for the sake of mission and the kingdom. I’m nervous, too, because passion and

VOX MAGAZINE

LEADERSHIP AND THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION: SURVEY FINDINGS 69% of the Young Adults surveyed said they were involved in leadership. 20% In business or the workplace 17% In non-profit organisations 24% In the community (community, youth or sports organisations) 10% Worship leading 24% Sunday School or Youth Leader in church (mostly those in their 20s and 30s) with the practical skills and support to lead local mission that brings hope and transformation to their communities. Tempo is Innovista’s practical leadership programme. Workshops spaced out over ten months give teams and young leaders (who are busy people) the space to put their learning into practice and learn from each other. Coaching, encouragement and support from experienced mentors, also makes a significant impact. Joanne is a youth and community worker in Ballysally who is part of an Innovista Tempo group. As we dug down into understanding the places we work and serve, Joanne realised she kept seeing young mums everywhere she went and her church was not engaging with this group. After some more research into what other provision there was for young mums, during our “vision” workshop, Joanne laid out her vision for serving not just young mums but also their families and helping change the culture in the estate where she WE NEED TO EQUIP PEOPLE TO BE LEADERS WITH works. THE NECESSARY CHARACTER AND SKILLS TO LEAD, Joanne presented her plans to the church leadership and NOT JUST TRAIN PEOPLE TO LEAD SPECIFIC TASKS. soon started ‘Tea and Tots’ on Wednesday mornings. She has also enlisted a fantastic team of dreams need to be nurtured, people need volunteers, mostly older women who love to be equipped practically, they need to be the opportunity to ‘mother’ and be grannies. given freedom and opportunity to lead and Joanne has worked hard at ensuring ‘Tea they need to be supported, encouraged and and Tots’ isn’t dependent on her but is rebuked along the way. sustainable. She is now handing over Almost 60% of 18-35s surveyed have leadership to her team of volunteers. had no leadership training and of those From helping her identify a need in her who have received training, a significant community, Tempo equipped Joanne with proportion has been through work or at the practical skills she needed and together college. We need to develop the capacity of we walked with her through the process of the church in Ireland not just to train people setting vision, goals, strategy and building to lead specific tasks, like Sunday school or team, giving feedback and providing youth group, but to be leaders who have the encouragement. skills and character to lead in the workplace New Tempo groups are starting in a and to lead local mission. number of locations this autumn and in the That’s why Innovista is here. We are New Year. For more information see passionate about equipping young leaders www.innovista.ie/tempo.

6% Deacon or practical leadership in church 6% Other leadership including Christian Unions and political activism 4% Church leadership MEN AND WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP While the percentage of women involved in leadership in non-profit organisations was higher (18% women to 14% men), in the workplace and the community, the percentages were very similar. • Workplace (20% women and 19% men) • Community (26% men and 24% women) In the church, however, the difference was more pronounced: Church leadership: 9% men to 2% women Worship leadership: 15% men to 8% women Deacon or other practical leadership: 12% men to 4% women Sunday School or youth leadership in church: 26% men to 23% women HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY LEADERSHIP TRAINING? Yes 42% No 58% OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

Young Adults vey Sur

RESPONSES TO THE YOUNG ADULTS’ SURVEY

TEARFUND RESPONSE BY NIAMH DALY

EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE REPONSE BY NICK PARK

The recent Young Adults’ Survey undertaken by VOX Magazine is a much-needed review of Irish Millennials’ faith and interaction with real life. For Tearfund, we are encouraged that concern for extreme poverty was highlighted as an issue of relevance for this group. This would support Tearfund’s own experience through visiting CUs and attending national youth events that Irish young people are far from apathetic about issues of global justice and poverty. It would be interesting to compare these results against other countries’ findings, but our sense in Tearfund is that something of Ireland’s missionary past lives on in this younger generation. The question we face in Tearfund is how to engage this generation to be part of the change they want to see happen. Sometimes that change isn’t very attractive as it involves a lifestyle challenge. I have a daughter who wants to sleep on her bedroom floor to identify with the world’s street children but can’t seem to survive for long without her mobile phone, which is laden with materials sourced in places with poor or non-existence labour and environmental standards (bought by her mother!). Tearfund’s No Child Taken campaign to stop the trafficking of 1.2m children annually resonated strongly in churches and among young people throughout Ireland last year. In particular we ran a postcard campaign to support the Immigration Council of Ireland’s work to Turn off the Red Light and lobby the Department of Justice to introduce laws to criminalise the buyers of sex in Ireland. Tangibly being able to ‘do’ something, albeit just completing a postcard, was something that Irish young people responded well to. This year our No Child Taken campaign is highlighting the plight of the 30 million children who are refugees around the world and face an uncertain future as they wait to return ‘home’ to restart their lives. Linked to that, Tearfund is supporting the fight for an end to direct provision for migrants arriving in Ireland.

The Young Adults’ Survey garnered over 800 responses, which makes it a statistically significant contribution to research in this area. The majority of respondents are in the 18-25 age bracket, but there are also sizeable numbers from those aged 26-35. The replies reveal an impressive geographical and ethnic mix. In some respects the survey reflects the themes we hear about in daily news reports. Depression, mental health and suicide are seen as leading causes of concern in Irish society. The most pressing spiritual issues are seen to be the irrelevance of the church to society, hypocrisy within the church, and the judgementalism that is often found in organised religion. Many of us who are older will remember how similar themes would have been prominent in our discussions back when we qualified as young adults. It is also noticeable that a number of young adults sharply disagree with many church leaders concerning their teaching on sexuality and marriage. The same-sex marriage referendum is obviously still fresh in many memories, but there would appear to be need for more dialogue in this area. Church leaders are evidently not articulating their beliefs and values convincingly. For me, there were some encouraging surprises in the survey results. Of those who had moved away from home and childhood influences, the experience had more often turned out positive rather than negative. Most respondents are still involved in church life, their descriptions of how they view church are more often positive than negative, and a majority read the Bible once a week or more frequently. There were interesting responses to a question asking what young adults would like to say to church leaders and other older Christians. The answers, while at times critical, came across as coming from good motives and with very little cynicism (certainly less so than I remember when I was a similar age). As a pastor, I was particularly moved by reading the responses from those young adults who had disengaged from church.

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

VOX MAGAZINE

IRISH BIBLE INSTITUTE RESPONSE BY JACOB REYNOLDS, IBI PRINCIPAL The VOX Young Adults’ Survey is full of useful information, which we have never had the opportunity to see before. It is both encouraging and concerning at the same time: encouraging in that this has given the under 35’s a voice and they have spoken pretty clearly, and concerning in that it is clear that many are not happy with the church. Anyone with influence in church life needs to listen to those who spoke and consider what may need to change as a result. There are many areas addressed but a few aspects impact on IBI. Biblical literacy is a significant issue for IBI, since we are a Bible College. It is concerning that only half of the under 35’s read the Bible on anything more than a weekly basis. I suspect that one of the causes of this is linked to the lack of relevance people perceive for their modern-day context. This is a clear issue for the church and we need to work hard at helping people of all ages engage with the Bible in meaningful ways. It is our prayer at IBI that some of our students who are in the under 35 age category will be resourced with tools that may enable them to make a positive difference to this issue with their peers. Recently we have begun to offer shorter courses, face-to-face and online in an effort to serve the church and open the Bible to a wider audience. The response has been positive and this survey encourages us to redouble our efforts to offer seminars like Walk Through the Bible helping Christians understand the big picture of the Bible, read it more intelligently, and engage with it for transformation and change. But the issue is not just about reading the Bible. It is vital to have a means to engage with the Bible so that it transforms and shapes our lives to look more like Jesus. This is connected to other responses in the survey, which explicitly mention aspects of living that are not Christ-like: hypocrisy, irrelevance and judgmental attitudes. I am saddened by what the under 35’s are saying [about these things] in the survey not because I think they are wrong but because I believe them to be right. However, while these are issues of sadness and possibly shame for the church, they can change. IBI’s motto “Loving God - head, heart and hands” expresses a heartfelt desire to understand, experience and live the Christian life in a holistic fashion. One way to do that is to engage with the Bible for transformation in a 21st century context. Our desire is to work with churches so that in partnership we might be able to make that happen.

EXODUS RESPONSE BY ANDREW LAMBERTON Exodus is a youth discipleship organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and in the North West of Ireland. Going over the surveys findings allows for much reflection on young adults in the Irish church, some predictable findings, some notions confirmed and others where I looked at the page saying “Really?…” Something stirred in me as I flicked from the results of Question 9 to the results of Question 10. Q9. In your opinion what are the three biggest social issues facing your community? Q10. In your opinion what are the three biggest spiritual issues facing your community? One answer on each reached over 50%. The biggest social issue - depression/mental illness; the biggest spiritual issue - irrelevance of the church to modern life. Are our churches irrelevant to modern life? Or, just for now, let’s ask a narrower question: More than half of those surveyed said that mental health is the biggest social need in Ireland, so, are our churches a good place, indeed a ‘relevant’ place, for those suffering from mental illness? The latest HSE (Health Service Executive) survey on mental health found that 62% of sufferers would not choose to let others know they had a mental health condition yet the survey also states that “talking is regarded as the most effective means of looking after your own mental health – to friends, to family members, to people who have had similar experiences.” Church is a unique place, and it’s becoming more and more unique in today’s technology driven, conversation-lacking society. Where else does a disillusioned teenage lad sit beside a retired business gentleman; where else can a young self-conscious girl learn the depth of her beauty from an older woman? With small groups and mentoring becoming more normal in local church life, the community this offers is increasingly becoming one of the few places for genuine, life on life, intergeneration, deep and positive intentional relationships. Yet the church is “irrelevant”? We know that the church has the potential to be welcoming, warm communities. So what can we, as churches in Ireland, do to address this major social issue? How can we become a good place for those suffering from mental illness?

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

REALITY

GOD MEANT IT FOR

GOOD!

Awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List, voted Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year and shot - 2015 has been quite a year for 75-year-old missionary Maud Kells. After 40 years serving with WEC in the Congo, Maud is not yet ready to retire. During the New Horizon conference in Coleraine, she shared her story. VOX magazine editor Ruth GarveyWilliams was there to capture what she had to say.

hen the bandits shot me, they The next day in my pigeonhole there was meant evil for me but God a syllabus of a Bible college in Glasgow. meant it for good. The response I still felt inadequate. But I Corinthians and the opportunities God has I: 27 – 29 means so much to me: “But God given me to glorify Him has been wonderful. chose the foolish things of the world to shame I was brought up going to church and the wise; God chose the weak things of the Sunday School. As a child, I knew about world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly Jesus in my head but not in my heart. It things of this world and the despised things – was in the Royal in Belfast through the and the things that are not – to nullify the Nurses Christian Fellowship that I came to things that are, so that no one may boast before know the Lord as my Saviour. After I asked him.” Jesus into my heart, He was so real to me Anything I’ve been able to accomplish that night. I had such a great sense of His in Africa has been because of the Lord presence. Before that, when I tried to read Jesus Christ. I spent two years at the WEC the Bible it was like doublemissionary Dutch, but after that the college in Bible came alive to me. Glasgow. There THE BIBLE IS WHAT HAS KEPT ME ON were memorial The Bible is what has kept me on the mission THE MISSION FIELD FOR 40 YEARS. IT IS services for the field for 40 years. It is the THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOK IN MY LIFE. missionaries most important book in who had been my life. martyred at that When I heard time and God the challenge to be a called me to missionary, I thought, “I couldn’t do that”. replace one of them, so that is how I got the One day I decided, instead of having lunch, I call to the Congo. would go up to my room and pray that God In 1968, I sailed to the mission would show me what to do. I got down on field. Jesus said, “If anyone would come my hands and knees and prayed. As I did after me, let him deny himself take up his that, I thought the Lord was calling me. But cross and follow me…” – it doesn’t say come I was still doubtful so I prayed that within 24 for a picnic. We should not be surprised hours I would hear something about a Bible whenever difficult things happen in our college as a confirmation. lifetime.

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

1 Peter 4:12 says “don’t be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering. Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you will be overjoyed when the glory is revealed.” I worked at various mission stations until 1986 when I went to Molito (west of Rwanda). They wanted me to start a little hospital. They had some mud buildings but as I started to teach hygiene, I called the church leaders and said “We need a proper building with bricks and a floor that can be washed.” They got a brick machine, which made two bricks at a time. Ladies who came to the antenatal clinic would bring stones for the foundation. At that time, many were dying in childbirth so my first goal was to build a maternity unit. Later, we built a surgical ward and operating theatre. Congo has been in the news for the wrong reasons. In 1996, people were so disillusioned with the corrupt regime that there was a coup d’état. During that time we kept being evacuated, then coming back and then being evacuated again. Eventually, I returned to Molita in 2004. Many houses had been burnt to the ground and the Landrover had been stolen, so it was like starting up again. It was great just to see God’s hand at work. Eventually we completed our hospital and built a proper school for the kids. The

Image: Studio82 Photography - www.studio82photgraphy.co.uk

VOX MAGAZINE

little children also wanted to come so we decided we needed a nursery. We had just started that last year but it came to an abrupt end when I was shot. In recent years, I only spend six months in the Congo and six months at home. There is no pharmacy so I order medical supplies from Kampala and charter a small MAF plane to bring all the supplies with me. I have a satellite phone for emergencies. Of course I am the only one who knows how to use it and when I was shot I wasn’t in any fit state to use it! I had had a wonderful Christmas day. I spent half the night bringing a baby into the world. Nowadays, I’m only called in for the difficult deliveries and I always pray with the mothers. We asked if she was a Christian and she said, “No.” As we progressed through the labour we explained the gospel to her. Eventually when the baby arrived, healthy and strong I said, “Let’s thank God for how He has answered prayer.” She said, “Before you pray, I would like to become a Christian.” A few days after New Year, just after midnight, someone rapped at my window to let me know that a lady needed a C-section. Fifty minutes later there was another rap on the bedroom window. A man’s voice said, “You are urgently needed in the maternity unit.” It never dawned on me that it could be hoax. My

night guard and I began walking over to One girl did appear but she went hysterical hospital. Halfway there we met a group when she saw me. It was a very long ten of people who told us that there was no minutes but eventually my night guard emergency. escaped from the bandit and went to call the We returned to the house and as we pastor. Finally everybody came out. approached the I remember house, the bandits thinking, God’s came running in control. I had I FELT NO ANGER AGAINST THE BANDITS AND I such a sense of up dressed in camouflage. One CAN ONLY SAY THAT WAS A MIRACLE FROM GOD. God’s peace – no grabbed my night panic or fear. I felt guard and pulled no anger against him away. The the bandits and I other bandit was pointing something at me. can only say that was a miracle from God. I went to grab what I thought was a stick and They got me into the house and I at that moment he pulled the trigger. Then I collapsed. If it wasn’t for my night guard realised it was a gun! I would have died. Eventually they Some people have asked, “Did you arranged for me to be evacuated. I have no realise you had been shot?” If you had been recollection of any of that. I was near death there you would have known! There was a but God wonderfully answered prayer. It terrific bang and pain as the bullet came out took three months for my wound to heal. my back. It narrowly missed a huge blood The biggest surprise of my life was vessel. If it had punctured that I would have to be awarded the OBE in the New died on the spot. I fractured two vertebrae Year’s Honours list. It is thanks to all my and two ribs. supporters and to the Lord. It was such an I yelled at the top of my voice hoping honour to have Prince William present me somebody would hear me. I could feel the with the award. blood trickling down my back so I pushed my back against a wall to try to stop the To find out more about WEC, visit bleeding. I kept yelling. Nobody came wec-uk.org. because they were terrified. I thought, this was how the Lord felt when He was left alone at the crucifixion. OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

FAITH

BROKEN:

RESTORING TRUST BETWEEN THE SACRED AND THE SECULAR BY GREG FROMHOLZ

The shared experience of broken trust and betrayal resonates across generations and sends tremors into the hearts of the most confident men and women. It is a fault line that runs the length and breadth of this island, rocking the foundations of individuals, families, communities, institutions and churches. Greg Fromholz’s powerful new book is timely and prophetic. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to publish these excerpts. Read it now… and then go out and buy the book. - Ruth Garvey-Williams, Editor of VOX magazine.

esus failed.” I stood there dumbfounded as the 15-year-old boy looked up at me with tears in his eyes. He was afraid. So was I. Seeing the look on my face, he repeated it again, this time with a bit more caution in his tone, “Jesus failed.” In an instant, years of apologetics came flooding back to me; stories upon stories that could “prove” him wrong reared their heads; a cold, electric surge of defensiveness shot up my spine…. But I had no words. I looked back at him and just said, “Why?” It didn’t take long for this young man to unfold his story of broken trusts: the divorced family, the bullying in school and the overwhelming feeling that he was unwanted and anonymous. A walking statistic. It took even less time for him to articulate that entering his church only made him feel more

WHEN CHURCHES FAIL, TRUST IN THE GOD OF THOSE CHURCHES ERODES. like a foreigner. This faith that had belonged to his parents and his grandparents seemed out of rhythm with his inner metronome. A spiritual compass that could no longer detect, let alone trust, due north. I took a deep breath, and in a moment abducted by grace, I managed not to get in the way of God and said simply: “Jesus has not failed you; I have.” I was not there for you when you needed me most. We were not there for you when you needed us most.

VOX OCT - DEC 2015

Fear permeates our lives and societies today, and it undermines trust. Fear causes us to react in ways of the gut - fight and flight and freeze - but also to reach and love. We need to rediscover trust in the mist of fear. Allow me to state the obvious. Over the years, our trust in institutions and relationships has been eroded. Trust has been relegated to the sidelines of our lives. It seems that we have become good at negotiating levels of relationship without actually trusting any longer. We look with a sceptical eye and believe with a list of contingencies. Could we even name on one hand the people whom we would fall from a height into the arms of? Could we name on one hand the institutions that we would fall from a height into the arms of? Personally, I struggle to. Maybe it’s just me, but I have a hunch I may not be alone. Trust in individuals is directly related to trust in God. We may not want this to be so, but it’s true. When we fail - and we all do others can feel like God is failing them and we can feel like God is failing us. When churches fail, trust in the God of those churches erodes. We are all flawed, therefore, churches are flawed. It’s natural. It’s human nature. But that’s why redemption was needed and that’s why Jesus came to rebuild a trust that faith had failed to fulfil. And collectively, if we’re being really honest with ourselves, we have done a great job of setting ourselves back to those preincarnational days. Those who find themselves outside of the church or outside of the relationships of Christians say, “If it weren’t for Christians and the church I might be able to believe in God.” I get it. I have felt the same

VOX MAGAZINE

way. I have emerged from a shattered history of broken relationships in both family and church. …When God’s conduits lack love, the logical conclusion many come to is that the God they worship lacks it too. It almost seems like it’s easier to have faith these days than to actually trust… …I believe it’s time for a fresh incarnation that focuses on trust. I believe trust is the road less travelled to authentic faith. We can no longer propagate the snake oil medicine of faith without actually being trustworthy… …This book is a journey of trust for both of us. It looks at how we can become restorers of trust between God and us, and between us and us. But this is not for the fainthearted… …Faith finds its traction in trust. Trust is the skin on the bones of faith. Trust is the hard currency of faith; it solidifies faith…. …I want to get back to being a people and church that are trustworthy. If you want to see your city renewed and your relationships flourish, then spend time building trust. If you want to see others coming into a lasting relationship with an unseen god, then be the trusted and incarnate walking alongside and showing the way. A restored trust restores. From Broken, Chapter Four - used with permission. Copyright © 2015 by Gregory Fromholz. Broken is available from Abingdon Press, all good books shops and Amazon or you can order / download a copy from Amazon.co.uk.

TRUST IS THE SKIN ON THE BONES OF FAITH.

Originally from the United States, Greg Fromholz has lived in Dublin since 1990 working with artists, archbishops, presidents and students. Author of Liberate Eden, Greg is an acclaimed Music Video Director for artists such as Rend Collective, The Script and Martin Smith, among others, and the Director of Officially Selected Documentary Phyllis. Greg is a Co-founder of Holy Trinity Church, Dublin and Rubicon- the faith and culture think-tank, and a City Leader for Q Commons.

OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

LIFE

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS AT BCM BY EMILY MURTAGH

hat oft-quoted Shakespeare line, “though she is but little not forceful. It includes everyone and just makes you enjoy praising she is fierce” seems to sum up Alice Loyd and Claire God.” Burford, two American missionaries who 50 years ago Years of experience behind the camps have honed the weeks into landed in Ireland with a heart to make known the love of a perfect balance of Bible times, team games and crafts. Tom, 19 said, Jesus among children and establish Bible Centred Ministries (BCM) “If you think God and banter can’t be combined, come to camp and in Ireland. From reports it seems those early weeks were somewhat we’ll change your mind” – which sums it all up quite brilliantly. of a culture shock as they adjusted to a lack of central heating, a new After-school Bible clubs for children also run across the vocabulary (nappies? presses? white pans?) and our tiny cars but country and BCM provides training for people who help with they threw themselves into the work and we are so thankful that they Sunday School, a task that can seem a little daunting for some. The did. programme, “In Step with the Master Teacher” constantly reiterates Fifty years on their legacy is seen through the impact God has the value of each child and the ability of each one to grow in wisdom made on the lives of so many people through BCM in Ireland. BCM and knowledge from a very young age, and always doing so in an Ireland is a teaching, training and accessible and enjoyable way. evangelism ministry, with a twofold Looking to the future, Richard vision to reach children and to serve Thompson, director of BCM churches across Ireland. Today, Ireland and recently appointed FIFTY YEARS ON THEIR LEGACY IS SEEN THROUGH THE BCM has a dedicated team of the director of BCM Europe, and IMPACT GOD HAS MADE ON THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE. his team have put a huge amount over 60 volunteers, more than 100 children attend camps each year of effort to ensure the experience and through the years, children’s gained over the past 50 years can be clubs have run in 30 locations combined with the innovation and across Ireland. enthusiasm of the young people to positively influence the future. For many, the first thing that springs to mind when they hear Lezanne, a 20-year-old student who serves both on the BCM BCM is its children’s and teen camps that run throughout the national youth forum and on the camp committee said, ”There summer, perhaps bringing back great childhood memories of weeks are so many things I know I wouldn’t have had the chance to do if spent in Headfort School, Wilson’s Hospital, Drewstown House or it wasn’t for BCM. …Being able to lead a group and to honestly Ovoca Manor. and openly communicate my faith are skills that were defined by BCM finally found a place to call its own at Castledaly Manor, having leadership responsibilities with BCM. Being involved has Co. Westmeath in 2010. One camper Maggie, aged 14, explained demonstrated how much of Timothy 4:12 BCM holds to: ‘Do not why she has returned to camp year after year: “I love BCM so much let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an because it encourages people to love God in a way that’s easy and example to the believers in love, in life, in faith and in purity.’ They

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Bible Centred Ministries

CELEBRATING

50 YEARS Serving God, Serving You

Saturday, 24th October, 2015 European Fair Day @ 2:30 pm BBQ @ 5:00pm At Castledaly Manor, Castledaly, Athlone

Admission Free Email: info@bcmireland.ie Tel: 086 2653433

Celtic/Irish Folk Music Concert with SLEMISH @ 7:30 pm (www.rejoicealways.org/slemish)

in the Athlone Springs Hotel

If Ireland is in the Rugby World Cup Semi Final that day we will be showing it.

understand that young people who love God and want to serve Him have so much to give, and they facilitate that.” “This has meant a no-fear approach to new events and ideas, with new projects starting over the past few years including “New Year at the Manor” which saw over 80 college-age people descend on Castledaly Manor for an overnight event of food and festivities, and “Refocus”, a camp that combines academic and spiritual support for young people in the run up to their leaving cert exams.” The story of Bible Centred Ministries bears testament to God’s faithfulness and the good things that come when, in His strength, people are faithful and obedient in reaching out in creative ways. It’s an exciting time to look back on what has been done and a perfect time to get on board. We invite you to join us on Saturday 24 October in Castledaly Manor from 2pm as we give thanks to God, honour the dedication of so many volunteers over the years, share memories and celebrate with the wider BCM Europe Family. My experience of BCM is that of a family and a family that is constantly welcoming in new members,so please get in touch if there is some way you think we could serve you or your church or if you would like to volunteer with us. Thank you to everyone who has played a part in the last 50 years and here’s to the next 50! Find out more at www.bcmireland.ie. Emily is a recent English Literature and Theology graduate who is currently living in Edinburgh, interning at an ethics council, working in a flower shop and learning more about life and how to live it well. She credits BCM for some of her best memories, lessons learned and friends made. OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

Bride’s Glen Farmhouse

Have you reviewed your pension lately?

Shankill, Co. Dublin

Am I saving enough? How much will I need at retirement? How much can I contribute? Trillium Financial Services will help you find out which pension is best for you and provide appropriate pension advice to suit each client’s financial plan.

Bed and Breakfast

www.bridesglenhouse.com Convenient for visiting Dublin city and County Wicklow

Bethany at Bride’s Glen

As a client meets with us, we will go through an assessment and a review of their current pension and expected retirement objectives together. Once we have a clear picture of our client’s retirement fund and tax liability, we can analise which type of pension will meet the client’s objectives. The desired outcome is to have a financial plan that outlines the next steps for the client and serves to guide them toward their financial goals. James Garza, QFA, of Trillium Financial Services, has over 14 years experience in the financial services industry.

Self-catering accommodation and conference centre for small retreat groups. www.bethanyatbridesglen.com Residential and Non-Residential

These facilities can be booked together or separately. Contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you. Betty Stevenson | 01-2822510 | stevenson.db@oceanfree.net

Mention this advert to avail of a free one-hour pension consultation with James Garza, QFA. Contact James Garza by email at james@trillium.ie or ring on 086 073 9902 or 01 444 7759. James Garza T/A Trillium Financial Services is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Sunday 15 November 2015

Christian Retreat Centre Greystones, Co. Wicklow

Join churches all over the world to pray for the Persecuted Church. The focus in Ireland will be on Iraq, where tens of thousands of Christians are living in refugee camps after being forced from their homes by Islamic State militants.

Order resources for your church now (by phone, email or post) Bookmark with Prayer Points for every person in church Information Sheet for those who are leading prayers

suitable for all ages and groups: Conference room, wi-fi access, Excellent catering team

Accommodation for up to 70 people 24 en-suite bedrooms

ideal for: church groups, weekends away, workshops, kids camps, team building, seminars, leadership retreats, midweek breaks and much more.

2 mins to the Sea/Beach, 20 min drive to Wicklow hills, Local amenities: Leisure centre, swimming pool, coffee shops, restaurants and much more....

PowerPoint two minute slide presentation

CHURCH IN CHAINS PO Box 10447, Glenageary, Co. Dublin T 01-282 5393 E info@churchinchains.ie W www.churchinchains.ie

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For enquiries & bookings: 00353 12874221 ywcagreystones@eircom.net

www.coolnagreina.ie

REVIEWS

Majestic (Live) Kari Job

VOX MAGAZINE

Matt Redman and Kari Job will be performing at Vicar Street Dublin on Monday 23 November as part of the Big Church Night In series of gigs across the UK and Ireland. Both artists have released live albums in recent months. Matt Redman’s Unbroken Praise is enjoying great popularity and Kari Job’s Majestic (Live) is a must-have album for anyone who wants to get an idea of what to expect at the gig, or who wants a memento of the Kari Job live experience. It plays like a greatest hits live album. Every track is superbly recorded and brilliantly captures the spontaneity and atmosphere of a Kari Job concert.

Pocketful of Faith Tim Hughes

Christy Nockels All Sons and Daughters

Let it be Jesus

All Sons and Daughters

All Sons and Daughters is the third album by American duo Leslie Anne Jordan and David Alan Leonard. Recent visitors to Ireland, where they wowed audiences with a series of unforgettable acoustic concert performances, All Sons & Daughters are a breath of fresh air on the Christian music scene. This self-titled album is their most innovative work to date, and despite a new-found maturity, the songs haven’t lost the simplicity and intimacy that is the group’s trademark. Stripped back production, with the emphasis on clarity of vocals, means this is an album you will find yourself playing late at night or before or after your quiet time with the Lord. Containing 11 intelligent, quality worship songs, it will instantly appeal to those who enjoy singer/ songwriter music, but if you are used to the Hillsong anthems you’ll be won over if you give it a listen. Every one of the 11 tracks is beautiful, but for me the standout songs are God be with us and Christ be all around me.

Recorded live at Passion City Church in Atlanta, Let it be Jesus is the first live album from Christy Nockels. Live recordings can be hit and miss affairs. They are either so atmospheric and full of applause, cheering and audience participation that the songs get lost in the noise, or else they are so sanitised and touched up in production, that the “live” feel sounds artificial. I am glad to say this album got the balance right. The quality is superb, the songs are carefully chosen and the overall experience is one of true worship. Let it be Jesus features a blend of old and new worship songs, along with a new recording of the title track, which together with Find me at the feet of Jesus are the standout tracks. Believe me, you’ll be playing them over and over again.

Tim Hughes has continued to shape the faith journeys of worshipers, young and old, for the last ten years. As director of worship at Holy Trinity Brompton, the home of the Alpha Course, and as head of Worship Central, an international worship training centre, Tim’s credentials couldn’t come any higher. His latest album, Pocketful Of Faith, chronicles his faith and family life as he moves from his roles at Holy Trinity and Worship Central to the challenge of planting a new church in Birmingham city. The thirteen praise and worship songs are of the quality we have come to expect from the composer of Happy Day, Here I am to worship and Consuming Fire to mention but a few. It’s difficult to choose any one track for special mention. The title track, however, is one of the standout songs for me. The lyrics “Anywhere You go I’ll follow, when You call my name I’ll run, lead me on into tomorrow, light my way like the rising sun” are born from the heart of a man who is leaving his comfort zone and stepping out in faith. There is a lesson in there for all of us. The last track on the album - Hallelujah (friend of the King) - will take your breath away.

Music Review by Vincent Hughes from UCB Radio, an Irish Christian radio station that broadcasts 24/7. You can listen on DAB Radio in Dublin and Cork, on SKY Channel 0214, UPC (TV) Channel 918, and online at www.ucb.ie. Contact UCB Ireland at ucbireland@gmail.com, 01 4299899, or find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

EVENTS

VOX MAGAZINE

Events Calendar What’s happening where and when

October Inside Out Men’s Conference Saturday, 10 October Barrowvalley Community Church, Carlow www.insideoutconference.org

Evangelical Alliance National Forum on Evangelism Saturday, 21 November Griffith Conference Centre, Dublin 8 www.evangelical.ie

BCM: Celebrating 50 Years Saturday, 24 October Castledaly Manor, Athlone www.bcmireland.ie

January Suicide Prevention Conference Saturday, 30 January Apostolic Church, Dublin 2 www.vox.ie

November Building Blocks Children’s Ministry Conference Saturday, 14 November St. Andrew’s College, Booterstown, Co. Dublin www.buildingblocks.ie

February Suicide Prevention Conference Saturday, 6 February Grace Christian Church, Cork City www.vox.ie

Building Blocks Children’s Ministry Conference for people who work with children in churches

St. Andrew’s College, Booterstown, Dublin 14th November | Cost €35 Keynote speaker: Julie Currie More information and booking on

www.buildingblocks.ie

Lucan Leisure Centre Griffeen Valley Park Starts Sun 4th Oct 10.30am to 12.15 All Welcome liffeyvalleyvineyard.ie

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mob: 086 3034178

Like us on Facebook

Suicide Prevention Conference Saturday, 20 February (to be confirmed) Calry Church (Church of Ireland), Sligo www.vox.ie Visit www.vox.ie/events for a more up-to-date event listing. (You can also inform us about your upcoming event there.)

REVIEWS

VOX MAGAZINE

VOX MOVIES

THE WAR ROOM

The latest Christian movie by directing duo Alex and Stephen Kendrick (Fireproof and Facing the Giants) was a surprise hit at the US Box Office when it opened at the end of August. Grossing $11 million in its first weekend, The War Room (which cost just $3.5 million to make) proved once again that “faith movies” are big business in America, especially as there is merchandising to match (calendars, prayer cards, prayer pad sticky notes and more). The film follows the lives of an African American couple whose marriage is in serious trouble until an elderly widow, Clara, encourages the wife to start praying. The “war room” is a closet-turned-prayer-room where Clara fights her battles on her knees. Slated by critics (one described it as “a clumsily written, flatly-acted sermon” while another commented, “it’s… awful, offering all the forced humour and superficial substance of a half-baked homily”), the movie clearly resonated with the American Christian community. Christian author and screenwriter Kevin Ott described his own experience of watching the film alongside what was clearly a cinema full of other believers, “I turned and saw people in the theater with their hands lifted. I heard others say ‘Amen’ or ‘Hallelujah.’ It was a church service — and a powerful one, at that.” Ott goes on to critique the film raising honest concerns about “heavy-handed” dialogue and a “lack of subtlety”. “Many faith-based movies have the subtlety of a punch to the face,” he says. Currently unavailable for download, the DVD version should be released later next year. We’ve been unable to view it yet but will let you know more when we do. Tell us what you think: What is your view of the “Christian” movie genre? Do you think this type of movie is simply “preaching to the choir” or has it any merit for a wider audience? Tell us about the best (or worst) faith-based movie you’ve ever seen! Write to editor@vox.ie with “FILMS” in the subject line.

What to look out for in 2016?

Oh dear! The “coming soon” list for 2016 is so stuffed-full of sequels, remakes and video game “spin offs” that it doesn’t promise to be a great year for cinema. Two that should prove interesting viewing for VOX readers are: Risen (January 2016) Starring Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter series) and Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love), Risen follows the story of the Resurrection through the eyes of a Roman military offical, Clavius (Fiennes), and his aide Lucius (Felton). In order to disprove the rumours of a risen Messiah and prevent and uprising in Jerusalem, the soldiers are ordered to find out what happened to Jesus’ body. Risen is being promoted as a continuation from Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ”. While the trailer suggests a biblical “epic” and the story itself is fictional, the creators claim it will be a “faithful scriptural treatment of the story”. The BFG (July 2016) One night, young Sophie comes across the BFG (Big Friendly Giant), who takes her to his home in Giant Country. The pair conspire to rid the world of all the malevolent giants of the land. The combination of Steven Spielberg (directing) and Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story should provide a feast of family viewing next summer. Tony Award winner Mark Rylance plays the BFG, while Sophie will be played by young unknown Ruby Barnhill. Tell us what you think: We’d love to hear your views of contemporary films. Write to us at editor@vox.ie with “FILMS” in the subject line. OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

VOX PS

RIFFING ON REST BY SEÁN MULLAN

he truth? I’m supposed to be on holidays. But it’s 6am and I’m at the laptop writing a piece for VOX. On rest! Try a little mind experiment. Start imagining yourself living in the days before electricity was commonly available - not that long ago in some parts of Ireland. Then begin, at least in your head, to drop all the tasks you can’t do without power and technology. Writing? That will

involve pen and paper. Speaking? That would mean face to face - in the same place. Working? By and large confined to the hours of daylight. One word resounds out from the imagined living of that kind of life restful. The rhythms of day and night, light and dark would mean ceasing every day. The week would have that rhythm of Sabbath when everyone stopped and rested corporately.

SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CEASELESS WORKING WORMS ITS WAY INTO OUR SOULS AND TELLS US THAT WE’RE NOT WORTH MUCH IF WE CAN’T KEEP WORKING. 46

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The year would be shaped by seasons - productivity followed by rest and recovery. Contrast that life of rhythm and rest with what most of us live now - waking up in the city that never sleeps and feeling like we haven’t slept either; able to keep working because technology allows us, we find ourselves unable to stop working and take a real rest. And something about that ceaseless working worms its way into our souls and tells us that we’re not worth much if we can’t keep working… can’t do the next task… can’t get the piece finished for VOX or whatever. What will they think? Will your reputation suffer if you don’t reply to that email, answer those voicemails, like those Facebook posts? Is it really possible to stop? And then in the middle of it all comes the voice, the invitation. The carpenter who lived when technology was a sharpened chisel blade or a well-rounded wheel. And He offers rest. “I will give you rest. Learn from me - and you will soul rest. Burden? Light.” And the voice begins to make sense and you realise that it may truly be possible to rest and cease and leave it all...

Seán Mullan has been working in church leadership for many years. He has developed a new project in Dublin City Centre called “Third Space”.

Church Insurance from a broker with a difference

We are a Christian insurance brokerage in business since 1984 and church insurance is an area in which we take a special interest. We have recently negotiated a new scheme especially for churches with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group offering discounted rates and lower minimum premiums. In addition to the usual covers (property etc.) this very comprehensive policy includes: ✓ Pastoral Care Indemnity ✓ Public Liability Insurance - which unlike many others does not exclude claims arising from sexual abuse (where all reasonable steps have been taken to avoid such abuse) ✓ Employer’s Liability (including volunteers) on a “costs inclusive” basis ✓ Charity Trustee Insurance ✓ Legal Expenses

Many churches find it difficult to identify the risks to which they are exposed, their responsibilities to others and the covers they should have in place. This is where our personal experience gained over many years in local church leadership roles makes us different to other brokers. We use our experience to consult with you personally and build an insurance package specific to your needs. Whether you are a large or small congregation, operate from a private home, rent space or own your own building we can provide advice and solutions for your insurance needs.

For your quotation please contact Rodney Croly at: R.J. Croly & Co. Ltd., 4 Finsbury Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Phone: 01-2989166 or 01-2960224 Email: croly@eircom.net

Acceptance criteria and terms and conditions apply. R.J. Croly & Co. Ltd is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland. Registered in Ireland no. 108865.

R.J. CROLY & Co. LTD

Registered office 4 Finsbury Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Directors: Rodney Croly QFA FLIA, Sylvia Croly QFA.

- The specialist for the Christian and charity community. OCT - DEC 2015 VOX

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